Luis Castillo Released, Martinez Makes Team

The Luis Castillo era is now over. Ruben Amaro Jr. said moments ago to the media that the team has released the second baseman and they will move forward with what they currently have on the roster.

Castillo was 6-for-22 with the Phillies in seven games this spring, giving him a .273 average. He knocked in one run, stole one base, walked four times, and struck out twice. Castillo’s OBP was .385.

Hard to say what Castillo would have had to do to make the squad coming out of the exhibition season. His numbers were decent over a small sample, but perhaps the Phillies had it in their minds that he would not stick in Philly unless he really wowed them. With Castillo being shown the door, it’s now down to Pete Orr, Michael Martinez, and Delwyn Young, along with darkhorse Michael Stutes, for two roster spots.

UPDATE, 1:29 pm: According to Charlie Manuel, Rule 5 pick Michael Martinez has made the team. Manuel says, according to David Hale of the Wilmington News Journal, Martinez will “get to play a bit.”

UPDATE, 3:43 pm: Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com joined Mike Gill and the Sports Bash on 97.3 ESPN FM in South Jersey today. The scribe talked about a number of Phillies related issues including the release of Castillo and what the roster may look like. Take a listen to Salisbury’s interview with Mike Gill.